"I have reached an age where I want to do something a little bit different. There is the moment you have the grandkids who live in France. There's a point you say, 'I have been doing the job a long time and maybe it's time now to live your life.' There are things beyond politics," Sykes told WISN 12 News' Kathy Mykleby.

He said he looks forward to not having to have an opinion on everything.

"To an extent, this announcement has been liberating," Sykes said.

Sykes said his decision wasn't easy but added that he made it more than a year ago.

"My father died when he was 63, and I will turn 62 this year, so this year has always been circled on my calendar. Frankly, if I was ever going to make a move, it was now," he said.

Sykes said that while he's exiting the "Sunday Insight" program he hosted on WTMJ-TV and his radio program on WTMJ-AM, he'll remain an "active voice."

"Of course, people are going to wonder if you are going to run for something," Mykleby asked.

"No, definitely not. No the chances are between zero and subzero," Sykes said.